Convenient Access from Greenacres
Head east on Rosedale Highway and, roughly 14 minutes later, you can be checking in at Trunkey Dental in Bakersfield. Greenacres families looking for a dentist near Greenacres will find a long-established general practice where Dr. Donald Trunkey treats every age, from a child's routine cleaning to a grandparent's crown. Every new patient starts with a no-guilt, no-lecture first visit.
Begin at the Greenacres Community Center on Calloway Drive and drive north to Rosedale Highway. Turn right and stay east for about 4 miles until the highway becomes 24th Street. Follow 24th Street east, turn left onto Q Street, and continue north to 38th Street, where a right turn brings you to 3807 San Dimas St Ste A, Bakersfield, CA 93301, close to Memorial Hospital. Allow about 14 minutes for the 7-mile trip, a little longer at rush hour when Rosedale Highway fills up.
Load the office on Google Maps before you set out. Households in nearby Riverlakes and Rosedale have their own pages with directions.
A Settled Community West of the City
Greenacres is an unincorporated community in Kern County, about six miles west of central Bakersfield in ZIP code 93312. It spreads across both sides of Rosedale Highway around Calloway Drive and covers just under two square miles. About 5,500 people lived there at the 2020 census.
The community has a long and slightly unusual history. Founded in 1930, it was first counted in the 1970 census and became a census-designated place in 1980. After part of it was annexed by Bakersfield, it dropped off the list before 2000, then returned as its own census-designated place in 2010.
Most homes in Greenacres are owner-occupied, and many date to the 1970s. Fruitvale Junior High and Rosedale-North Elementary both sit inside the community. The Greenacres Community Center, run by the North of the River Recreation and Park District, hosts a pool, senior programs and children's activities.
A settled community is a good match for a practice like ours. Dr. Trunkey and his wife Kathy have owned the office since January 1981, and staff such as Kelsey, our treatment coordinator and a dental assistant since 2009, bring years of experience to each visit.
Keeping Long-Lived Teeth Healthy in Greenacres Households
Families who have lived in one place for decades often have dental histories to match. Parents may carry fillings placed in their teens, while grandparents are managing crowns, bridges or a missing molar. Children are building the habits that will decide how their own teeth fare. A family practice can look after all three stages at once.
Gum health is one of the quietest risks in midlife. Gum disease often causes little pain until bone loss is advanced, so routine exams with pocket measurements matter. When it is caught early, a deep cleaning and closer follow-up can keep teeth firmly in place for years.
Jaw trouble is another concern we see in busy adults. Clicking, soreness on waking, or worn edges can point to bite or joint problems, and Dr. Trunkey's eight-year course at the Pankey Institute focused on exactly these issues. Our TMJ care starts with a careful look at how your teeth meet.
Children in the household benefit from the same steady routine. Regular cleanings, fluoride toothpaste and well-timed fillings protect new permanent teeth, and kids who grow up visiting one familiar office tend to feel more relaxed in the chair as teenagers and adults.
Following Dr. Trunkey's preference for conservative care, treatment plans start with the simplest option that will work. That might mean watching a small worn area instead of crowning it, or saving a tooth with a root canal rather than replacing it.
Services From Your Dentist Near Greenacres
General & Family Dentistry
Checkups, cleanings and exams for every generation in the house. One office for parents, kids and grandparents keeps everyone's dental history together.
Gum Disease
Puffy, bleeding or receding gums deserve attention before they loosen teeth. Treatment ranges from deep cleaning to a schedule of more frequent maintenance visits.
Crowns & Bridges
A crown protects a cracked or heavily filled tooth, and a bridge closes the space left by a missing one. Both keep chewing balanced on both sides of the mouth.
Root Canals
An infected or inflamed nerve does not have to mean losing the tooth. A root canal clears the infection and lets the natural tooth stay in place.
Dental Implants
When a tooth cannot be saved, an implant replaces it from the root up without reshaping neighboring teeth. Dr. Trunkey has taken continuing education in implant dentistry.
Not every visit is about treatment. Plenty of Greenacres checkups end with nothing more than a reminder for the next cleaning. Digital x-rays help confirm that quiet areas are truly healthy, so recommendations come with a reason you can see.
Meet Your Bakersfield Dental Team
Patients have trusted Dr. Donald Trunkey with their care since 1981, the year he and Kathy bought the practice. Today Kathy serves as financial officer, and Fatima, a registered dental hygienist, and Leilani, a dental hygienist, are both part of the team.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
No dental insurance? The Standard Membership Plan covers two regular cleanings, routine exams and x-rays for an annual fee, plus 20% off qualifying restorative work, implants excluded. The office also participates with Delta Dental, Cigna and Careington, and CareCredit or Cherry can help with larger bills.
What Patients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Trunkey Dental from Greenacres, and how do I get there?
The drive is about 7 miles, roughly 14 minutes, from Greenacres to Trunkey Dental. Rosedale Highway takes you east until it becomes 24th Street, then Q Street and 38th Street finish the trip. It is a straightforward route for anyone choosing a dentist near Greenacres, with only a few turns at the very end.
Does a crown always mean I need a root canal first?
No. Most crowns are placed on teeth with healthy nerves, simply to protect a tooth that is cracked, worn or weakened by a large filling. A root canal comes first only when the nerve is infected or badly inflamed. An exam and x-rays show which situation applies to your tooth.
What does scaling and root planing involve?
It is a deep cleaning for gum disease. The hygienist removes tartar and bacteria from below the gumline, then smooths the root surfaces so the gums can reattach and heal. It is often done one section of the mouth at a time with numbing, and follow-up cleanings every few months help keep results stable.
Does Trunkey Dental accept Careington plans?
Yes. The office participates with Careington, along with Delta Dental and Cigna, and accepts many other plans as well. Trunkey Dental does not participate with Medi-Cal, Kern Family or other government assistance programs, so a membership plan may suit those patients better.
How sore will I be after a root canal?
Most people feel only mild tenderness for a few days. The tooth and surrounding gum may ache when you chew, and over-the-counter pain relievers usually manage it well. Severe or worsening pain, swelling, or a bite that feels high after treatment are reasons to call the office so Dr. Trunkey can check the tooth.
Schedule Your Visit from Greenacres
A dentist near Greenacres is just one call away at (661) 426-2506, or you can request a time through online scheduling. See the full list of neighborhoods on our areas we serve page, or visit the Dentist Bakersfield, CA homepage for more about the practice.
